Motor vehicle



Jan. 9, 1923.

1,441,515 W. R. McGOWEN. MoToR VEHICLE.

FILED JAN- 24 1921 2 SHEETS'SHEET I Jan. 9, 1923.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 W. R. McGOWEN. MoToR VEHICLE. FILED JAN. 24 1921',

the forward vehicle wheel Patented Jena i WILLIAM ringerowl-in, or GT-IEGAGO, ILLINOIS.

moron "VEHICLE.

Application filed. January 24, .1921.

To all whom it may concei e:

a. Mo-

Ide known that .l, l VILLIAI-a (.irownn,citizeuot the United Eitatcs, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State oi Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Motor Vehicles, of which the following is full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to motor vehicles and. has tor one ot its ob iects the provis1on of means whereby the extent of the base of the spring support for the chassis ot' a motor vehicle may be increased longitudinally oi. the Veh1cle.1'lo this end I interpose a spring member between the chassis frame and either ing inclusive ottwo portions extending lon gitudinally of the vehicle outwardly b B ond the chassis frameand asseinbledtogether at their outer ends and respectively connected at their innerends with the chassis frame and said. axle. in addition to accomplishing the aforesaid object oft my invention l preferably employ the spring extending means in such a manner that it will protect the radius rods that connect, the axle of the steering vehicle wheels with the chassis frame from undue distorting and crystallia. ing strains.

Whenthe invention is so embodied-as to guard the radius rods from undue strain the spring member is interposed between axle and the chassis frame, the steering vehicle wheels being mounted as usual upon this axle, In the preferred embodiment of the invention the spring member includes two lcat'springs or sets of. leaf springs and rigid bar portion of Ll-shape whose base is connected with the chassis frame and whose. sides are respectively above the leafsprings that also pro:

the chassis frame. the outer ends of the s. of the rigid bar port on being respectively rigiilly assembled with the outer ends oi.

the leaf spring. Shackles connect the inner ends of; sald springs with santl axle. The outer ends oi? the sides ct the rigid bar portionot' il -form are preferably employed a mounting for a bumper.

I will exglain my invention more fully by reterence to theaccornpanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment thereof andin which Fig. l is a front end view oil a motor vehicle eouippedin accordance with the invention; FigiQ is a view, somewhat ject outwardly from and longitudinall l Serial No. 439,367.

diagrammatic, showing the motor vehicle in side 'elevatiomFig. 3 is a perspective view ot the spring member by. means of which the longitudinal extent of the springbase is increased; Fig. & is side view of the spring member shown in connection .withparts contiguous thereto; Fig, 5 is'a view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, the rear. portion of the motor vehicle being omitted; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the structure appearing in Fig. 5. q Like parts are indicated by similar characters. of reference throughoutthe difierent figures. 4 y Y i chassis frame 1 is of any usual or suit able construction, this frame supporting; among other things, the casing 2 of the en gine and the steering column 3 through which any. usual or suitable steering post A is passed into connection with a" link 5 which isso coupled with the steering vehicle wheels 6 as to govern the planesof rotation thereof. Each of these steering vehicle wheels is mounted to turn, in accordance with common practice, upon a stub shaft whichcar ries an upright bearing 7 journaled to turn. about an upright axis, upon an end of the steering vehicle wheel axle .8. Each of these bearings carries a linger 9 projecting rearwardly therefrom, the aforesaid link 5 be ingconnected to one of these fingers, both fingers being connected by another link 10 whereby any steering movement imparted from. the steering post 4: through the link 5is communicated to both steering; vehicle wheels to causethe planes oi rotation or" these wheels to be changed, while remaining substantially parallel, to suit thedirection' in which the vehicle is to travel. In accordance with invention spring member is interposed between one end of the chassis frame and thecontiguous axle and when the inventiton so embodied as to further the protection of the radius rods such s n-inn. member is interposed between the' chassis frame 1. axle S.

i The s nking ably inclusive of two compound leafsprings '11 and a rigid bar portion 12 that is oi."

and the front steering vehicle wheel, f

member employed is preterthese U-bolts'also aassin through a 30rl g a tion 14 that cooperates with the U-bolts to hold the U-shaped part and the chassis frame'in assembly. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the portion is also an integral part of the engine casing 2 whereby the U-bolts l3-also serve to hold. the engine casing and the chassis frame inassembly. The sides of the U-shaped porso 12 project outwardly from and longi:

tudinally of the chassis frame and are located' above the compound leaf springs 11 that alsoproject outwardly from, and longitudinally of the chassis 'frame. Shackles 15 have their lower ends. in swinging coin motion with the inner encs of the leaf y springs 11 and, their upper endsinswinging connection w th the upper ends of the posts 16 thatpass through and are bolted to the steering. vehicle wheel axle 8. The outer ends of'said springs are rigidly secured to the outer ends of the sides of the. U-sliaped at their rear, ends. r

In the preferred embodiment of the in,- vention the forward ends of the radius rods are bolted to. the bottom sides of the steering vehicle wheel axle 8 by means of the nuts 21 that are in threaded connection with the lower ends of the posts 16 that pass through said axle and the forward. ends of the radius rods.

The outer ends of the U-shaped portion 12 of the spring structure are well adapted to serve as supports fora bumper 22' assembled therewith by the bolts .17 and 23 in conjunction with the straps 24L.

By increasing the length of the spring 'base in interrelation to the wheel-base by the device of my invention, the upright movement of the chassis frame, where vertically aligned withythe steering; vehicle wheel axle 8, is reduced in extent as com pared with the upright movement of the forward or outermost ends of the spring: structure 11,12 for any given action of the spring as will readily be understood by referenoe to the diagram of 2. with the attendant advantages that will be 'understood'by those-skilled in the art, the shackles 15 so assembling the leaf spring portions .of the spring member as to permit of the suitable action of \the spring; in response to ma shocks withouaimpos nc; unduly injurious strains upon the radi o rods and without disturbing the co-operative mechanism.

interrelation of the steering vehicle wheel axle-8 with the radius rods and the steering The shackles 15 permit the free up and down movement of the radius rods and slight turning movements of the steering vehicle wheel axle so that neither the axle nor the spr' igs will bind the forward ends of the radius rods in a manner to resist the up and down movements of the outer ends of such rods'which would result infbuckling or distorting strains thereon. By placing the springs forward of the steering vehicle wheel axle 8 they are removed from the. range of water that might overflow from the radiator, if the engine be water cooled. The cantilever spring suspension 11, 12 illustrated affords .a very sub stantial foundation or support for the bumper guard 22, thespring structure ahsorbing much of the bumper shocks in their passage to the chassis frame. The force of the bumps upon the bumper is not sus-.

tained by the radius rods owing to the shackles. whereby breakage of the engine crank case and of the radius rods isavoided.

The cantilever spring suspension of. my invention also serves largely toelimina te or materially reduce-the sidewise movements of the chassis frame with respect to the vehicle wheels. Any such sidewise movement of the chassis frame with respect to the vehicle wheels would be accompanied by similarmovement of the steering post 4:

whichwould cause movement of the link 5' with a consequent undesired change of the planes in which the steering vehicle wheels rotate requiring correction on the part of.

the chauffeur by adjustment of his hand steering wheel. In thedevice of my invention the direction of movement of the shackles 15 is such as to prevent or materially reduce the lateral movements of the chassis fram with respect to the vehicle wheels whereby the chassis frame is substantially confined to the line of travel which is determined by the steering. mechanism.

l Vhile I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limitedto the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from thespirit of my-invention. but having thus described my invention 1 claim. as new her being inclusive of two leafsprings pro- JQClZlHg outwardly from and longitudinally and. desire to secure by Letters Patent the followmg: p

1. In a motor vehicle, the COIlllfll'latlJlOll of the chassis frame and a'rigid bar portionof U-form whose base is connected with the chassis frame whose sidesfare respectively abore theleaf springs and also project outwardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame, the outer ends of the sides of the rigid bar portion being respec tively rigidly assembled with the outer ends of the leaf springs; shackles connecting the inner ends of said springs with said axle; bearings upon the ends of said axle that connect the forward vehicle wheels therewith and which afford upright axes upon which said vehicle wheels may be turned to change their planes of rotation to constitute them steering vehicle wheels; steering mechanism for changing the planes of rotation of said steering vehicle wheels; radius rods connecting end portions of said axle with the chassis frame; and a bumper mounted upon the outer ends of the sides of the lJ-shaped bar portion.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a chassis frame; of a spring member interposed between said frame and the forward vehicle wheel axle, said spring memher being inclusive of two leaf springs projecting outwardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame and respectively connected at their inner ends with end portions of said axle and a rigid bar portion of U-form whose base is connected with the chassis frame and whose sides are respec tively above the leaf springs and also pro- -ject outwardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame, the outer ends of the sides of the rigid bar portion being respectively rigidly assembled with the outer ends of the leaf springs; bearings upon the ends of said axle that connect the forward vehicle wheels therewith and which afford upright axes upon which said vehicle wheels may be turned to change their planes of rotation to constitute them steering vehicle wheels; steering mechanism for changing the planes of rotation of said steering vehicle wheels; radius rods connecting end portions of said axle with the chassis frame; and a bumper mounted upon the outer ends of the sides of the U-shaped bar portion. U

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a chassis frame; of a spring member interposed between said frame and the forward vehicle axle, said spring member be ing inclusive of two springs projecting outwardly from. and longitudinally of the chassis fran'ie and a rigid bar portion of U-form whose base is connected with the chassis frame and whose sides are respectively above the leaf springs and also project outwardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame, the outer ends of the sides of the rigid bar portion being respectively rigidly assembled with the outer ends of the leaf springs; shackles connecting the inner ends of said springs with said axle; bearings upon the ends of said axle that connect the forward vehicle wheels therewith and which afiord upright axes upon which said vehicle wheels may be turned to change their planes of rotation to constitute them steering vehicle wheels; steering mechanism for changing the planes of rotation of said stee *ing vehicle wheclsgand radius rods connecting end portions of said axle with the chassis frame.

4.. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a chassis frame; of a spring member rigidly assembled with the outer ends of the leafsprings; bearings upon the ends of said axle that connect the forward vehicle wheels therewith and which afi'ord upright axes upon which said vehicle wheels may be turned to change their planes of rotation to constitute them steering vehicle wheels; steering mechanism for changing the planes of rotation of said steering vehicle wheels; and radius rods connecting end portions of said axle with the chassis frame.

In a motor vehicle, the combination with achassis frame; of a spring member interposed between said frame and a vehicle whee]. axle, said spring member being inclusive of two leaf springs projecting outwardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame; a rigid bar portion of U-form whose base is connected with the chassis frame and whose sides are respectively above the leaf springs and also project outwardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame, the outer ends of the sides of the rigid bar portion being respectively rigidly assembled with the. outer ends of the leaf springs; shackles connecting the inner ends of said springs with said axle; and a bumper mounted upon the the outer ends of the sides of the U-shaped bar portion.

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a chassis frame; of a spring member interposed between said frame and a vehicle wheel axle, said spring member being inclusive of two leaf springs projecting outwardly from and longitudinally of the chassis f nine and respectively connected at their inner ends with end portions of said axle;

a rigid bar portion of U-form whose base is connected with the chassis frame and whose sides are respectively above the leaf spring and also prO ect outwardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame, the outer ends of thesides of the rigid bar portion being respectively rigidly assembled with the outer ends ofthe leaf springs; and a bumper mounted upon the outer ends of the sides of the U-shaped bar portion.

7. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a chassis frame; of a spring member interposed between said frame and a vehicle axle, said spring member being in elusive of two leaf springs projecting out- Wardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame a rigid bar portion of U- formwhose base is connected with the chassis frame and Whose sides are respectively above the leaf springs and also project outwardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame, the outer ends of the sides of the rigid bar portion being respectively rip;- i'dly assembled with the outer ends of the leaf springs; and shackles connecting the inner ends of said springs and said axle.

8.1n a motor vehicle, the combination with a chassis frame; of a spring member interposed between said frame and a vehicle wheel axle, said spring member being; inclusive of two leaf springs projecting out vardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame and respectively connected at their inner ends with end portions of said axle and a rigid bar portion of U-form whose base is connected with the chassis frame and whose sides are respectively above the leaf springs and also project outwardly from and longitudinally of the chassis frame the outer ends of the sides of the rigid bar portion being respectively rigidly assembled with the outer ends of the leaf springs.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this twenty ninth day of December A. 1)., 1920.

VVILLIAlVi R. MoGOVVEN, 

